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Pretty Deadly Podcast

133 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★★ - 7 ratings

A podcast about realistic self defense for women. Hosted by Pretty Deadly founder Susie Kahlich and women from around the world, we're addressing common misconceptions about self defense, why we think self defense should be part of self care, and sharing tips, tricks and stories.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Episodes

S8 Episode 130: Sucker Punch

April 21, 2024 16:27 - 17 minutes - 31.7 MB

of violence against women in New York There has been a spate of violent men sucker punching random women in New York City recently. How do you defend against a sucker punch? This episode talks about: • The definition of a sucker punch • The role of the random attack in the history of GBV • How to identify someone targeting you • Can you even defend against a sucker punch? • Why is this happening and what should we do about it Listen at the link in our bio or here: https://t.ly/HhL5t ...

S8 Episode 129: The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

April 09, 2024 16:01 - 14 minutes - 28.1 MB

In 2005, Pretty Deadly founder decided to run a marathon. In this episode, Susie shares her experiences training for, and running, a marathon, and how that relates to self defense. This episode talks about: Expectations and support Stereotyping body types In what ways softer training is harmful to women in self defense The value of learning how to take a punch How these stereotypes contribute to targeting women for violence You have been listening to the Pretty Deadly Podcast. You can...

S8 Episode 128: Safety in Women's Fitness

March 30, 2024 18:34 - 54 minutes - 101 MB

Women should feel safe while working out and here's how to feel safer. This episode explores important safety concerns for women in gyms, women's safety while running, why health and safety are important in a fitness environment, including why women won't ask for help at the gym. Hosted by safety fitness gear founders Faith C., of FittSafe and Susie K. of Pretty Deadly, they discuss what it means to be mission-aligned and their shared vision for a world where there is nothing holding wom...

S8 Episode 127: How to Handle A Trauma Trigger

March 17, 2024 19:56 - 42 minutes - 78.2 MB

This episode talk about how to handle trauma when it’s triggered in a client.  Trauma triggers can be scary and upsetting for everyone. Do you know what to do when a client experiences a trigger? This episode talks about: Recognize the signs Spotlight & shame Giving permission Buddy system Protect yourself  **** You have been listening to the Pretty Deadly Podcast. You can learn more about who we are and what we do and how to find a Pretty Deadly course near you by visiting our web...

S8 Episode 127: How to Handle A Trauma Trigger | Pretty Deadly Podcast

March 17, 2024 19:56 - 11 minutes - 20.7 MB

This episode talk about how to handle trauma when it’s triggered in a client.  Trauma triggers can be scary and upsetting for everyone. Do you know what to do when a client experiences a trigger? This episode talks about: Recognize the signs Spotlight & shame Giving permission Buddy system Protect yourself  **** You have been listening to the Pretty Deadly Podcast. You can learn more about who we are and what we do and how to find a Pretty Deadly course near you by visiting our web...

S8 Episode 126: How to Work with Trauma

March 10, 2024 20:31 - 8 minutes - 15.8 MB

This episode explores how trauma actually works in the long term, both in the brain and how it manifests in the body, and gives some practical advise for working with people suffering from PTSD. This episode talks about: Trauma is data with no file/context Replays until normalized or filing place found Emotionally always trying to get back to the moment before This shows up in behavior such as frustration, short temper, impatience, feeling like no one understands Also shows up in the ...

S8 Episode 126: How to Work with Trauma | Pretty Deadly Podcast

March 10, 2024 20:31 - 8 minutes - 15.8 MB

This episode explores how trauma actually works in the long term, both in the brain and how it manifests in the body, and gives some practical advise for working with people suffering from PTSD. This episode talks about: Trauma is data with no file/context Replays until normalized or filing place found Emotionally always trying to get back to the moment before This shows up in behavior such as frustration, short temper, impatience, feeling like no one understands Also shows up in the ...

S8 Episode 125: How to Handle What If Questions | Pretty Deadly Podcast

March 02, 2024 22:25 - 10 minutes - 20.3 MB

What if questions can sometimes make us feel like we're in over our heads, but this episode explores why they're actually great for self defense, and how to guide people towards figuring it out for themselves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S8 Episode 124: What Women Really Need from Self Defense | Pretty Deadly Podcast

February 24, 2024 21:18 - 16 minutes - 30.6 MB

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of violence. This episode talks about moving out of our comfort zones as trainers to look at the methods and kinds of threats women actually face, rather than what we imagine is happening: True crime story Not all men Teaching things people actually need The urban myth of the ponytail You have been listening to the Pretty Deadly Podcast. You can learn more about who we are and what we do and how to find a Pretty Deadly course near you...

S8 Episode 123: From Dusk Til Dawn | Pretty Deadly Podcast

February 10, 2024 16:36 - 13 minutes - 25.2 MB

Just as a quick recap, FInal Girls Film Fest is an annual festival hosted here in Berlin celebrating the best in women’s horror: meaning, features, shorts, workshops, talks and even book launches about horror created by women, and women’s roles in the horror genre.  And every year for the past 6 or 7 years, Pretty Deadly leads a self defense workshop for the festival, based around a horror theme. This episode is about how Pretty Deadly Certified Self Defense Trainer Julia Brasch and I prep...

S8 Episode 213: From Dusk Til Dawn | Pretty Deadly Podcast

February 10, 2024 16:36 - 13 minutes - 25.2 MB

Just as a quick recap, FInal Girls Film Fest is an annual festival hosted here in Berlin celebrating the best in women’s horror: meaning, features, shorts, workshops, talks and even book launches about horror created by women, and women’s roles in the horror genre.  And every year for the past 6 or 7 years, Pretty Deadly leads a self defense workshop for the festival, based around a horror theme. This episode is about how Pretty Deadly Certified Self Defense Trainer Julia Brasch and I prep...

S8 Episode 122: Interview with Trainer Julia Brasch | Pretty Deadly Podcast

February 04, 2024 17:45 - 49 minutes - 92.6 MB

We interview martial artist, teacher and self defense trainer Julia Brasch in this episode of the Pretty Deadly Podcast. Julia is a German martial artist and teacher with over 30 years of experience, training in Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu and Muy Thai. Her start in martial arts was unique in that her teachers and trainers for the first five years of her schooling were all women. Julia talks about the importance of female mentorship and the importance of a balance of genders as well, along with an...

S8 Episode 121: Scary Stories in Self Defense | Pretty Deadly Podcast

January 27, 2024 18:56 - 20 minutes - 38.7 MB

Self defense is already associated with fear and scary situations. This episode explores why using scary stories to motivate people to learn and train self defense tends to have the opposite effect. This episode talks about some famous urban myths and the real #truecrime stories behind them: Kitty Genovese Mary McGriff Philadelphia subway assault A real life kidnapping incident in Michigan A real life incident in Spain You have been listening to the Pretty Deadly Podcast. You can lear...

S8 Episode 120: The Importance of Hope in Self Defense | Pretty Deadly Podcast

January 20, 2024 16:02 - 22 minutes - 42.1 MB

TW: This episode contains descriptions of an attack. This episode talk about the importance of hope in self defense, and how often it can be extinguished when training is too complicated. This episode covers: Susie takes a self defense class BJJ - defending against a familiar attack Every defense was to choke the attacker into unconsciousness, but crushing against the adam’s apple and not the jugular Arm lock: kamakura - we have something similar in Ninjutsu but we turn the other say ...

S8 Episode 119: How It Started - How It's Going

January 12, 2024 22:03 - 17 minutes - 33.1 MB

This episode I want to go all the way back to the beginning, and why I started Pretty Deadly in the first place.  ***** Before I go on, have you checked out our new website? It’s amazing, if I do say so myself. One of the things I’m most excited about is our booking system, that let’s people book directly with certified self defense trainers and payments go directly to them. That may not seem like a big deal to you, but if you’ve ever managed a studio or dojo with a bunch of independent tr...

S7 Episode 118: Self Defense for People with Disabilities | Pretty Deadly Podcast

December 26, 2023 14:15 - 10 minutes - 20.6 MB

How to teach self defense to disabled people. **This is our final episode of Season 7! Thank you for listening and happy new year!" Facts about disabled people Fallacies about disabled poeple What to look for and how to adapt for: No/low vision Deafness Physical disability Wheelchairs Prosthetics It’s really all about balance. Everything else follows. You have been listening to the Pretty Deadly Podcast. You can learn more about who we are and what we do and how to find a Pretty D...

S7 Episode 117: Moving Targets | Pretty Deadly Podcast

December 14, 2023 17:00 - 11 minutes - 21.4 MB

Ok, so targets. What are we really aiming for? Small moving targets Precision & training Relation to honor False beliefs around targets Energy of targets & how it damages Looking for results What happens when you remove the targets?  You have been listening to the Pretty Deadly Podcast. You can learn more about who we are and what we do and how to find a Pretty Deadly course near you by visiting our website at prettydeadlyselfdefense.com. And if you’re a fitness or martial arts pro a...

S7 Episode 116: Honor in Self Defense | Pretty Deadly Podcast

December 07, 2023 13:37 - 10 minutes - 19.3 MB

Self defense and honour – what exactly are we defending, when we’re defending ourselves? Male honour projected onto women and assuming same value, but also male honour in terms of owning women’s bodies But this doesn’t compute for women. Let’s look at it in terms of traditional roles: Lineage doesn’t pass through the woman. honor killings male punishment for breach of honor [my kids, my wife] why this is exclusionary What women actually care about and how we interpret honor: the right...

S7 Episode 115: Self Defense or Retaliation? | Pretty Deadly Podcast

November 30, 2023 13:33 - 5 minutes - 11.1 MB

Self defense? Or retailiation? What’s the difference and how do you know? For self defense it’s pretty simple: Verbal warnings Only when boundaries are crossed When all warnings ignored Self defense as a last resort (physical), never a first response –  Which brings us to retaliation: it’s after the fact:  It’s an eye for an eye mentality It’s punishment And you’re doing it because you couldn’t defend yourself in the moment and you’re either humiliated, ashamed or dishonored.  And ...

S7 Episode 114: How Hard Should I Hit?

November 23, 2023 17:39 - 10 minutes - 18.9 MB

This episode is about use of force and proportionality in self defense. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S7 Episode 113: Using Anger in Self Defense | Pretty Deady Podcast

November 17, 2023 19:13 - 7 minutes - 14.8 MB

This episode talk about the role of anger in self defense..  This episode talks about: Real-life situation when threat to life is imminent: no emotions Men vs women defintion of self defense  Traditional self defense classes  Why "tap into your rage!" is not a good idea The size female rage It can help with training, but it's not ideal to make it a requirement for self defense. You have been listening to the Pretty Deadly Podcast. You can learn more about who we are and what we do a...

S7 Episode 112: Sexual Dynamics in Self Defense Classes

November 04, 2023 19:33 - 10 minutes - 19.9 MB

A couple of episodes back I talked about training self defense and the female anatomy. In this episode, we're looking at sexual dynamics in self defense training and how it can backfire on women. This episode talks about • Sexualization as a way to dominate • Ego vs. education • When the teacher is threatened by student's skills This podcast is produced by Singe Network for Pretty Deadly, recorded in Berlin,and our original music is the track Icarus Wish by Berlin band Dead Sentries, u...

S7 Episode 111 - Let's Play: How Martial Arts Makes Smart Minds

October 19, 2023 17:45 - 11 minutes - 20.8 MB

In the last episode, I talked about where we use self defense in everyday life, and in this episode my guest Else Kramer is going to talk about where she uses self defense and her martial arts training in her life as an executive coach, creative mind, solo traveler, philosopher, and mom. Else lives in the Netherlands, where she runs her consulting, creative coaching and podcasting business, Managing the Smart Mind. You can find her work and even hire her at her website, https://coachkramer....

S7 Episode 110: How We Use Self Defense in Everyday Life | Pretty Deadly Podcast

October 13, 2023 13:59 - 9 minutes - 18.3 MB

Last week we talked about our biological self defense systems. Continuing from that subject, let’s talk about where else we use self defense in our daily lives! This episode talks about: Learned self defense examples: putting our hand on a hot stove Situational awareness: petting a growling dog Strategic thinking: crossing the street against traffic Intuition, recognition and pheremones You can learn more about who we are and what we do and how to find a Pretty Deadly course near you b...

S7 Episode 109- Our Bodies Our Selves | Pretty Deadly Self Defense

October 05, 2023 17:45 - 16 minutes - 30.4 MB

This week, we're talking about our biological self defense system -- what is it? Where does it live? How does it work? Can we trust it? This episode talks about: Slimy food - crows & us & sense of smell Sickness & vomit Sleep: systems check Intuition: data Shaking: wake up the muscles, – dark alley story Fight flight freeze or fawn: and women being “nice”  Shame is also a self defense system Foetal position is the only natural one You can learn more about who we are and what we do ...

S7 Episode 108: Bless this Mess: Periods & Self Defense | Pretty Deadly Podcast

September 29, 2023 11:40 - 9 minutes - 18.6 MB

Last week we talked about self defense, martial arts and boobs so I thought, while we’re on the subject, let’s talk about periods too. So, what is it like for women training self defense and martial arts during menstruation? And what is it like to train during perimenopause and menopause?  This episode talks about: How menopause makes you move differently How self defense and martial arts can help reconnect to your body during perimenopause The physical "symptoms" of menstruation that ca...

S7 Ep 107: Self Defense Martial Arts and Boobs | Pretty Deadly Podcast

September 20, 2023 14:09 - 9 minutes - 17.9 MB

Training in martial arts and self defense (and a lot of other sports) rarely takes into consideration women's physiology, specifically: breasts. This episode talks about how to train -- and how to adapt training for -- people with breasts, and people without. Topics covered in this episode are: Training in sports bras Training without a bra People who are new to boobs Working with people with masectomies How to manage students who sexualize breasts How to work with your students to e...

S7 Episode 106: What's Stopping Her?

September 05, 2023 22:29 - 17 minutes - 32.6 MB

If you’re a martial artist listening to this, you probably know this scenario: you advertise a self defense class, women in your community are enthusiastic, sign ups, no shows, drop offs, you’re lucky if you’ve still got two who finish out the course. You ask them what they think they smile and nod and say it was great and then you never see them again.  Why is that? Let’s look at this from another perspective: you just spent 4-6-8 weeks teaching them powerful self defense techniques, but ...

S7 Episode 105: M for Master

August 23, 2023 18:11 - 9 minutes - 18.6 MB

Do you have to know martial arts to teach self defense? The short answer is no, but here's why: Self defense as domain of martial arts Brief history of self defense & martial arts: it’s about art – skill, training, technique, creativity, you have to learn the rules in order to break them, you can build, etc. It takes a long time to become a good martial artist. But it doesn’t take a long time to learn some basic self defense.  And here’s why: you’re already defending yourself, every day....

Fitness & Diet Culture: You vs. Your Body | Pretty Deadly Podcast

July 20, 2023 21:15 - 44 minutes - 82.9 MB

In this episode, Susie interviews the first US personal trainer, boxing coach and roller derby skater Cristi Johnson. Cristi lives and works in Alpena, Michigan, and is the first fitness trainer to be certified by Pretty Deadly to teach self defense in the US. This episode talks about: Cristi's history with fitness as @untraditionalathlete How Cristi found roller derby How roller derby changed Cristi's views on fitness Cristi's path to becoming a personal trainer How finding fitness t...

S7 Episode 103: What Not to Wear | Pretty Deadly Podcast

July 11, 2023 16:10 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MB

What Not to Wear: This episode was recorded before Jonah Hill's texts to his ex were made public, but women have been blamed for causing sexual assault due to their clothes of thousands of years, from too much make up to high heels to everything in between. In today's world, that extends to our digital devices as well: ear buds, smart phones, head phones -- no matter what we carry, wear or how we look, it all goes against the common sense of self defense. But is that realistic? In this epis...

S7 Episode 102 - The Voice in Self Defense | Pretty Deadly Podcast

July 03, 2023 19:38 - 26 minutes - 23.9 MB

Welcome to Season 7! In this episode, we're talking about the Feminine Voice in Self Defense. This episode touches on the following topics: Women's "hysteria" and the female voice The history of "hysteria" as a medical diagnosis Upcoming immersive performance in Berlin about Hysteria and the Female Voice Traditional self defense thinking about using the voice, e.g., shouting no, speaking with confidence & why Pretty Deadly doesn't teach that Pretty Deadly's "F*CK YEAH!" game The Kiai ...

S6 Episode 101: Special Guest Andrew Juarez | Pretty Deadly Podcast

March 13, 2023 19:39 - 39 minutes - 73.5 MB

Our 101st episode brings a special surprise! Andrew Juarez, owner of Rise Above Self Defense in California reached out to us to chat about the ins and outs of teaching self defense, and self defense as a business. Andrew is a U.S. Navy Veteran who worked as a Gunner's-mate on the Ammunition Ship (USS Mt. Hood AE-29) for 3 years during Operation Desert Storm. Being part of the ships security force and a firearm instructor was also a big part of his evolution into teaching self defense. His cu...

S6 Episode 100 - What She Said: Comedy and Self Defense | Pretty Deadly Podcast

February 17, 2023 18:39 - 16 minutes - 30.4 MB

The commonalities between comedy and self-defense, how we have used humour to diffuse a threatening situation or to talk about something awkward or painful through the art of mimicry or sarcasm to establish a boundary. How I've de-escalated volatile situations using well timed humour.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S6 Episode 99 - Creative Ways to Say No | Pretty Deadly Podcast

February 09, 2023 10:43 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MB

Women are so socialized to not offend, that it can be hard for us to say no, but's just a muscle we have to train like everything else. In Pretty Deadly courses, groups often employ "The No Game," a game developed to help women get comfortable with saying "no" as a full sentence. Susie and Humay talk about The No Game, and introduce some other creative ways of saying no that can be just as effective. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S6 Episode 98: The Consequences of Saying No

February 02, 2023 17:55 - 26 minutes - 49.3 MB

Susie and Humay talk about instances in their lives when saying no to someone or setting a boundary offended someone and how we dealt with it. Plus the lessons we derived from it.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S6 Episode 97: The Power of Hair

January 05, 2023 13:54 - 15 minutes - 29.3 MB

Hair is a powerful expression of femininity. So why do some women dye their hair after taking a self defense course? Got questions you'd like answered? Email us at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S6 Episode 96: Emotional Self Defense

December 29, 2022 16:47 - 13 minutes - 24.9 MB

What exactly is emotional self defense and how can we use it instead of or even along with physical self defense? Got questions you'd like answered? Email us at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S6 Episode 95: Real Life Self Defense

December 22, 2022 14:00 - 13 minutes - 24.9 MB

Real-life instances where we or our students have used pretty deadly self-defense moves. Got a question you'd like answered? Email us at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S6 | Episode 94: Scream Queens & Misogyny

December 15, 2022 16:17 - 21 minutes - 40.7 MB

Hollywood and its obsession with horror films where women always get murdered and serial killer biopics where the murderer is glorified. Is it a form of sexism? Got questions you'd like answered? Send us an email to [email protected]! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S6 Episode 93: Is Self Defense Different in Different Cultures?

November 24, 2022 11:18 - 16 minutes - 31.2 MB

Does self-defense differ from culture to culture? Susie has taught self defense in multiple countries, Pakistan, Nepal, South Africa, UK, France, Germany, USA . Humay wonders what are some differences and commonalities in people’s attitudes to self defense and the application of self defense? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S6 Episode 92: Will Learning Self Defense Make Me A Bitch?

November 17, 2022 17:56 - 20 minutes - 37.8 MB

Addressing a common fear that women have with learning self-defense. Would it perpetually put them in defensive mode and make them unlikeable and difficult? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S6 Episode 91: Meet our Trainer in Pakistan!

November 10, 2022 19:51 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MB

We are halfway through Season 6, and we're kicking off episode 91 with a new co-host, our Pretty Deadly Trainer in Pakistan, Humay Waseem. Humay is a personal trainer and nutritionist living in Islamabad, and she shares a glimpse of her life as a female entrepreneur in Pakistan's capital city. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S6 Episode 90: Self Defense At Work

October 20, 2022 18:16 - 22 minutes - 30.7 MB

How do you defend yourself from a boss who believes that employment equals ownership? The #metoo movement helped shine a spotlight on workplace sexual harassment, but for so many women across the world, #metoo just isn't possible. When the only thing between you and homelessness is your job, how do you enforce your boundaries without getting fired? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S6 Ep 89: Other People's Boundaries

October 13, 2022 15:27 - 19 minutes - 26.3 MB

Someone asked recently: how do you know you're not the creep? Defining and defending our own boundaries is the core of self defense, but the next step after that is learning to recognize the boundaries of others, and respecting them. How do you recognize someone else's boundaries without testing them, and how much are you responsible for? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S6 Episode 88: How do you define your boundaries?

October 06, 2022 11:25 - 16 minutes - 30.8 MB

How do you go about defining your boundaries? In this episode, Susie and Tavia talk about where boundaries begin and where they end (not where you think!), why they're actually fluid, and how they help inform our own identities. If you're not how to identify your own boundaries or even where to begin, Susie offers some easy exercises to listen to your body and let it guide you towards the boundaries you may not even realize you already have. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more ...

S6 Ep 87: Domestic violence and self defense

September 29, 2022 07:00 - 21 minutes - 29.7 MB

Self-Defense In Familial Situations Women are frequently abused in our own families, and even within friend groups. Misogyny is deeply embedded in all of us. As women, we have built-in misogyny toward ourselves. How Can Women Speak Up About Domestic Abuse? We must not define someone else's violence for them; rather, we must help them understand what violence looks like. It's Hard For People To Accept That Those They Love Are Hurting Them Nobody wants to believe that the people they car...

S6 Ep 86: The Difference between Protection and Self Defense

September 22, 2022 06:51 - 15 minutes - 21.8 MB

The Difference between Self-Defense and Protection The difference between self defense and protection is disrupting something as it's happening, and stopping something before it begins. You do not need to defend yourself if nobody's attacking you. How Women Suffocate Themselves While Protecting Themselves From Violence Susie believes we do this in a variety of ways. We accomplish this by purposefully being unattractive, or by gaining a lot of weight because we believe men are less likely...

S6 Ep 85: Women vs Women

September 15, 2022 06:45 - 25 minutes - 34.9 MB

Women’s Attitudes Towards Violence Against Women Susie has witnessed an entire generation of change, which is an impressive development. But there is still the same degree of violence against women. There is now internet violence, which was not previously present. The Role Of Classism And Racism In Violence Against Women Women's attitude about violence hasn't changed; violence has managed to stay the same the entire time. The Role Women Play In The Violence Against Other Women People wo...

S6 Ep 84: Emotional Strength through Self Defense

September 08, 2022 08:47 - 12 minutes - 17.4 MB

Emotional strength is the ability to respond openly and vulnerably when confronted with overwhelming emotions. It is the feeling of trusting yourself and your body and knowing that you'll have to give it your all, whatever it looks like. The Role Of Emotional Strength In Self-Defense It is crucial when it comes to self-defense. When you're in a scenario where you feel uncomfortable, assaulted, or in danger, you're able to think quickly, retain your cool when necessary, and make a smart dec...